scholarly journals Physical Assets by SHS in the Framework of ISRU and ISFR Paradigms for Human Space Missions on the Moon

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
G. Corrias ◽  
R. Licheri ◽  
R. Orrù ◽  
G. Cao
Keyword(s):  
Life Support ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Processing Parameters ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Starting Mixture ◽  
The Sixties ◽  
Important Processing ◽  
Physical Assets

<p>In this work a brief overview of the most important technologies for space exploration, with particular emphasis on the Moon missions, is presented. It is shown that the focus has been on the technologies to extract consumables (O<sub>2</sub>, H<sub>2</sub>O, N<sub>2</sub>) for human life-support replenishment. The fact that the exploitation of extraterrestrial resources to obtain the desired materials during each ongoing mission, which has been the subject of several investigations since the sixties of the last century, is discussed. The paradigms ISRU (In Situ Resources Utilization) and ISFR (In Situ Fabrication and Repair) are then introduced. In particular, one of the most important process for the production of oxygen, i.e. the reduction of ilmenite by hydrogen is analyzed. In addition, the current iteration of the roadmap which identifies two feasible pathways for human missions after ISS (International Space Station) is addressed. Next, the fabrication of Lunar physical assets is taken into account, while focusing particularly on those processes where combustion-like reactions are exploited. The main results recently obtained in the literature in this regards are also summarized. In particular, the choice of the reducing agent and the influence of the most important processing parameters (composition of the starting mixture, gas pressure level, and gravity conditions) are examined in a systematic manner.</p>

scholarly journals Supplementing Closed Ecological Life Support Systems with In-Situ Resources on the Moon

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 770
Author(s):  
Alex Ellery
Keyword(s):  
Life Support ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Life Support Systems ◽  
Physicochemical Processes ◽  
Local Resources ◽  
C And N ◽  
Biological Organisms

In this review, I explore a broad-based view of technologies for supporting human activities on the Moon and, where appropriate, Mars. Primarily, I assess the state of life support systems technology beginning with physicochemical processes, waste processing, bioregenerative methods, food production systems and the robotics and advanced biological technologies that support the latter. We observe that the Moon possesses in-situ resources but that these resources are of limited value in closed ecological life support systems (CELSS)—indeed, CELSS technology is most mature in recycling water and oxygen, the two resources that are abundant on the Moon. This places a premium on developing CELSS that recycle other elements that are rarified on the Moon including C and N in particular but also other elements such as P, S and K which might be challenging to extract from local resources. Although we focus on closed loop ecological life support systems, we also consider related technologies that involve the application of biological organisms to bioregenerative medical technologies and bioregenerative approaches to industrial activity on the Moon as potential future developments.

scholarly journals The smallest space miners: principles of space biomining

Extremophiles ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Santomartino ◽  
Luis Zea ◽  
Charles S. Cockell
Keyword(s):  
Life Support ◽  
Mineral Nutrients ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Space Applications ◽  
Rock Types ◽  
Water Oxygen ◽  
Space Environments ◽  
Space Conditions

AbstractAs we aim to expand human presence in space, we need to find viable approaches to achieve independence from terrestrial resources. Space biomining of the Moon, Mars and asteroids has been indicated as one of the promising approaches to achieve in-situ resource utilization by the main space agencies. Structural and expensive metals, essential mineral nutrients, water, oxygen and volatiles could be potentially extracted from extraterrestrial regolith and rocks using microbial-based biotechnologies. The use of bioleaching microorganisms could also be applied to space bioremediation, recycling of waste and to reinforce regenerative life support systems. However, the science around space biomining is still young. Relevant differences between terrestrial and extraterrestrial conditions exist, including the rock types and ores available for mining, and a direct application of established terrestrial biomining techniques may not be a possibility. It is, therefore, necessary to invest in terrestrial and space-based research of specific methods for space applications to learn the effects of space conditions on biomining and bioremediation, expand our knowledge on organotrophic and community-based bioleaching mechanisms, as well as on anaerobic biomining, and investigate the use of synthetic biology to overcome limitations posed by the space environments.

scholarly journals Design suggestions on modified self-sustainable space toilet

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreyash A. Sakhare ◽  
Sourabh M. Pendkar ◽  
Nand Jee Kanu ◽  
Eva Gupta ◽  
Umesh Kumar Vates ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Support ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Artificial Gravity ◽  
List Type ◽  
Water Recovery ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Waste Storage ◽  
Interplanetary Missions

Abstract The present research investigates the design of compact and lightweight waste collection system (WCS) for interplanetary missions such as Mars, and the Moon as well as the space with the required features of NASA’s lunar loo challenge (released date: 25th June, 2020). Existing space toilets’ WCS store waste in small plastic bags and these bags are thrown in the space which increases the space junk. If these WCS are used on planets, they could pollute the planets. The newly designed—unisex and self-sustainable space toilet meets its objective of intimacy and warmth for the astronauts as it is equipped with all essential features such as (a) the basin for vomit collection, (b) the rotating waste storage based on the mechanism of artificial gravity, and (c) the noiseless bellow pump for air flow flushing system (AFFS). The WCS is designed for the storage of urine, faeces, vomit, diarrhoea, and menses. In the first half of the research article, the focus is kept on improving self-sustainability of the present WCS. In the second half of the present investigation analyses are done for multiphase flows of the CFD analysis in ANSYS fluent to simulate the flow of air through the nozzle provided with (a) the seat, (b) the urine funnel, and (c) the basin for air flow flushing system (AFFS). The design of the present self-sustainable space toilet proposed herewith is justified suitable for different gravitational conditions such as (a) Mars (3.721 m/s2), (b) the Moon (1.62 m/s2), and (c) the zero—or microgravity i.e., the space gravity. The proposed solar-operated WCS could be integrated to function with (a) water recovery and management (WRM) system, (b) the inbuilt composting unit, and (c) the bioregenerative life support system (BLSS). Furthermore, the assessment of the required electrical energy derived from the solar energy (harnessed using efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) modules) is conceptualized for the effective functioning of the present self-sustainable WCS. Article highlights The present investigation explores into the design of lightweight and compact WCS for interplanetary missions such as Mars and the Moon, as well as space missions with the functionality listed by NASA's lunar toilet competition (released date: 25th June, 2020). The actual space toilets, which are used on the International Space Station (ISS), are not designed to withstand varying gravity circumstances. The new advanced—unisex and self-sustaining space toilet achieves its goal of intimacy and warmth for astronauts by including all necessary features such as (a) a vomit collection basin, (b) rotating waste storage based on artificial gravity mechanism, and (c) a noiseless bellow pump for air flow flushing system (AFFS).

A geometallurgical characterization study of the Crystalkop Reef at the Great Noligwa Mine, Klerksdorp Goldfield, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-322
Author(s):  
D. Pienaar ◽  
B.M. Guy ◽  
C. Pienaar ◽  
K.S. Viljoen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Processing Parameters ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Small Contribution ◽  
Gold Cyanide ◽  
Three Samples ◽  
Characterization Study ◽  
Different Sources

Abstract Mineralogical and textural variability of ores from different sources commonly leads to processing inefficiencies, particularly when a processing plant is designed to treat ore from a single source (i.e. ore of a relatively uniform composition). The bulk of the Witwatersrand ore in the Klerksdorp goldfield, processed at the AngloGold Ashanti Great Noligwa treatment plant, is derived from the Vaal Reef (>90%), with a comparatively small contribution obtained from the Crystalkop Reef (or C-Reef). Despite the uneven contribution, it is of critical importance to ensure that the processing parameters are optimized for the treatment of both the Vaal and C-Reefs. This paper serves to document the results of a geometallurgical study of the C-Reef at the Great Noligwa gold mine in the Klerksdorp goldfield of South Africa, with the primary aim of assessing the suitability of the processing parameters that are in use at the Great Noligwa plant. The paper also draws comparisons between the C-Reef and the Vaal Reef A-facies (Vaal Reef) and attempts to explain minor differences in the recovery of gold and uranium from these two sources. Three samples of the C-Reef were collected in-situ from the underground operations at Great Noligwa mine for mineralogical analyses and metallurgical tests. Laboratory-scale leach tests for gold (cyanide) and uranium (sulphuric acid) were carried out using dissolution conditions similar to that in use at the Great Noligwa plant, followed by further diagnostic leaching in the case of gold. The gold in the ore was found to be readily leachable with recoveries ranging from 95% to 97% (as opposed to 89% to 93% for the Vaal Reef). Additional recoveries were achieved in the presence of excess cyanide (96% to 98%). The recovery of uranium varied between 72% and 76% (as opposed to 30% to 64% for the Vaal Reef), which is substantially higher than predicted, given the amount of brannerite in the ore, which is generally regarded as refractory. Thus, the higher uranium recoveries from the C-Reef imply that a proportion of the uranium was recovered by the partial dissolution of brannerite. As the Vaal Reef contain high amounts of chlorite (3% to 8%), which is an important acid consumer, it is considered likely that this could have reduced the effectiveness of the H2SO4 leach in the case of the ore of the Vaal Reef. Since the gold and uranium recoveries from the C-Reef were higher than the recoveries from the Vaal Reef, the results demonstrate that the processing parameters used for treatment of the Vaal Reef are equally suited to the treatment of the C-Reef. Moreover, small processing modifications, such as increased milling and leach retention times, may well increase the recovery of gold (particularly when e.g. coarse gold, or unexposed gold, is present).

Analysis and calculation of the process of low-pressure reverse osmosis during recycling of hygienic water

2019 ◽  
pp. 28-36
Author(s):  
Leonid S. Bobe ◽  
Nikolay A. Salnikov
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Reverse Osmosis ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Operating Pressure ◽  
Life Support System ◽  
Cleaning Agent ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Pressure Channel

Analysis and calculation have been conducted of the process of low-pressure reverse osmosis in the membrane apparatus of the system for recycling hygiene water for the space station. The paper describes the physics of the reverse osmosis treatment and determines the motive force of the process, which is the difference of effective pressures (operating pressure minus osmotic pressure) in the solution near the surface of the membrane and in the purified water. It is demonstrated that the membrane scrubbing action is accompanied by diffusion outflow of the cleaning agent components away from the membrane. The mass transfer coefficient and the difference of concentrations (and, accordingly, the difference of osmotic pressures) in the boundary layer of the pressure channel can be determined using an extended analogy between mass transfer and heat transfer. A procedure has been proposed and proven in an experiment for calculating the throughput of a reverse osmosis apparatus purifying the hygiene water obtained through the use of a cleaning agent used in sanitation and housekeeping procedures on Earth. Key words: life support system, hygiene water, water processing, low-pressure reverse osmosis, space station.

In situ deteriorating patient simulation in general practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp20X711425
Author(s):  
Joanna Lawrence ◽  
Petronelle Eastwick-Field ◽  
Anne Maloney ◽  
Helen Higham
Keyword(s):  
Life Support ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Patient Simulation ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Integrated Simulation ◽  
Deteriorating Patient

BackgroundGP practices have limited access to medical emergency training and basic life support is often taught out of context as a skills-based event.AimTo develop and evaluate a whole team integrated simulation-based education, to enhance learning, change behaviours and provide safer care.MethodPhase 1: 10 practices piloted a 3-hour programme delivering 40 minutes BLS and AED skills and 2-hour deteriorating patient simulation. Three scenarios where developed: adult chest pain, child anaphylaxis and baby bronchiolitis. An adult simulation patient and relative were used and a child and baby manikin. Two facilitators trained in coaching and debriefing used the 3D debriefing model. Phase 2: 12 new practices undertook identical training derived from Phase 1, with pre- and post-course questionnaires. Teams were scored on: team working, communication, early recognition and systematic approach. The team developed action plans derived from their learning to inform future response. Ten of the 12 practices from Phase 2 received an emergency drill within 6 months of the original session. Three to four members of the whole team integrated training, attended the drill, but were unaware of the nature of the scenario before. Scoring was repeated and action plans were revisited to determine behaviour changes.ResultsEvery emergency drill demonstrated improved scoring in skills and behaviour.ConclusionA combination of: in situ GP simulation, appropriately qualified facilitators in simulation and debriefing, and action plans developed by the whole team suggests safer care for patients experiencing a medical emergency.

scholarly journals Ethical Issues around Death and Withdrawal of Life Support in Neonatal Intensive Care

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuti Pant
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Ethical Dilemmas ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Brain Injured ◽  
Discharge Against Medical Advice

AbstractAmongst all the traumatic experiences in a human life, death of child is considered the most painful, and has profound and lasting impact on the life of parents. The experience is even more complex when the death occurs within a neonatal intensive care unit, particularly in situations where there have been conflicts associated with decisions regarding the redirection of life-sustaining treatments. In the absence of national guidelines and legal backing, clinicians are faced with a dilemma of whether to prolong life-sustaining therapy even in the most brain-injured infants or allow a discharge against medical advice. Societal customs, vagaries, and lack of bereavement support further complicate the experience for parents belonging to lower socio-economic classes. The present review explores the ethical dilemmas around neonatal death faced by professionals in India, and suggests some ways forward.

scholarly journals Review: Filament Winding and Automated Fiber Placement with In Situ Consolidation for Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Polymer Composites

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1951
Author(s):  
Yi Di Boon ◽  
Sunil Chandrakant Joshi ◽  
Somen Kumar Bhudolia
Keyword(s):  
Processing Parameters ◽  
Filament Winding ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Thermoplastic Composites ◽  
Manufacturing Processes ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Consolidation Process ◽  
Fiber Placement ◽  
Automated Fiber Placement

Fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites are gaining popularity in many industries due to their short consolidation cycles, among other advantages over thermoset-based composites. Computer aided manufacturing processes, such as filament winding and automated fiber placement, have been used conventionally for thermoset-based composites. The automated processes can be adapted to include in situ consolidation for the fabrication of thermoplastic-based composites. In this paper, a detailed literature review on the factors affecting the in situ consolidation process is presented. The models used to study the various aspects of the in situ consolidation process are discussed. The processing parameters that gave good consolidation results in past studies are compiled and highlighted. The parameters can be used as reference points for future studies to further improve the automated manufacturing processes.

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